Piper PA-30-160 accident near Cartersville, Georgia, November 11, 1996
On November 11, 1996 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-30-160, registered N7392Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cartersville, Georgia (Cartersville airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight instructor's (CFI's) inadequate supervision by failing to ensure that directional control of the aircraft was maintained, during a simulated engine failure. The student pilot's delay in performing the appropriate single-engine emergency procedure was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 1996 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cartersville, Georgia · Cartersville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30-160 · all PA-30-160s on the register
- Registration
- N7392Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-448
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was being conducted to provide multi-engine training to the single-engine, rated, commercial student. During a takeoff roll on runway 01, the left engine was shut off below Vmcg by the flight instructor (CFI) to simulate an engine failure. The dual student failed to reduce the power on the right engine in a timely manner to prevent the airplane from yawing to the left. The CFI stated he was unable to recover control of the airplane in time to prevent its veering off of the runway. The airplane then encountered unfavorable terrain, and the left main gear collapsed. The CFI and the student did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,760 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 5,184 as pilot in command; 3,550 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,794 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 16, 1996; 904 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-BIA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Atlanta Navy Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: MGE Marietta GA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: VPC GA
- Runway 1, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from PDK, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.